The Up-and-Formation of Tennis Doubles

In answer to some questions I've received showing that I failed to make a point clear in my earlier post about the Up-and-Back Formation. So I'll try to make the point more clear.

Via the Web and forums, it is fast becoming a cliche that the Up-and-Back Formation is "bad." The parrots saying that those who play whole points in the Up-and-Back Formation are ignorant are themselves the ignorant ones.

How can you tell?

Because they are bemoaning many volleys through the gap between partners in the Up-and-Back Formation, which shows that they don't know how to play it properly.

Presumably, they are getting beat by many volleys through the gap because:

• At net they are looking back to watch their partner hit the ball and don't see those volleys to the gap coming in time to back off and defend the gap.
• They are switching for lobs and getting their returns of lobs switch-poached.
• Their net player parks in one spot instead of manuevering to widen their baseline partner's hitting lane, so that their partner has a hard time keeping the ball away from the opposing net player.

Yes, if you make these errors, your opponents will have a heyday volleying shots through the gap on you.

So, don't blame the Up-and-Back Formation, when the real problem is that many players just don't know how to play it.

Every formation has a vulnerable area, and you need to know how to play that formation so as to minimize the risk of a shot to that vulnerable area.

The gap in the Up-and-Back Formation is targetble only by an opposing net player kitty-cornered from your net player. But how often does an opposing net player kitty-cornered from your net player get a whack at the ball? Compare with the rear in the Both-Up Formation. It is targetable by either opponent from anywhere on every shot.

So, which formation is really more vulnerable?

Just as you need to play both-up so as to prevent good lobs, you need to play up-and-back so as to prevent volleys through the gap.

What you CAN say about the Up-and-Back Formation is that is more complex than the other formations and requires more knowledge to play properly, but that doesn't make it a "bad" formation.

Unfortunately, everyone needs to learn how to play Up-and-Back properly, because it's unavoidable. It's the formation beginners use. It's the formation virtually every point, at every level, begins in - with both teams in the Up-and-Back Formation.

So, learn how to play it properly or suffer.

Do NOT avoid the Up-and-Back Formation. When it's called for, it's necessary. For example, wnd what if you're both-up and one of you goes back to chase a lob? What? Must both of you retreat to avoid the Up-and-Back Formation? Similarly, what if you're both-back and one of you can advance while the other hits? What? Must you wait till you both can advance on an approach shot, just to avoid the Up-and-Back Formation?

Ridiculous. The good thing about the Up-and-Back Formation is its versatility. It has an offensive mode and a defensive mode, and it enables you transition smoothly into either of the other formations.

Avoiding the Up-and-Back Formation makes no more sense than avoiding either of the other two would. They all have their use in the game.

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